Free meals for seniors – Nassau County Council on Aging COVID-19 Update

Nassau County Council on Aging
Press Release
Janice Ancrum
President & CEO
March 20, 2020

NCCOA Delivering FREE Meals to Seniors

Since Nassau County seniors cannot come to Nassau County Council on Aging’s Fernandina Beach and Hilliard Life Centers, then NCCOA will come to them with balanced, nutritious meals and more.

“Our NCCOA team is now involved as a Senior Crisis Response Center with a widescale ‘boots on the ground’ effort,” said Janice Ancrum, President & CEO. “We have deployed several volunteers and a diverse group of staff members – from a variety of departments – to deliver free meals during this challenging time.”

NCCOA has 4,000 frozen meals on order, supplemented with shelf-stable food. This type of food can be safely stored at room temperature in a sealed container for up to six months.

“In times like these, we must be more creative and flexible in order to help our seniors,” Ancrum said. “That’s why we’re taking more services on the road, delivering meals, groceries and prescriptions. Our hope is that seniors will have these needs met.”

In the wake of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), NCCOA has placed Life Center operations on hold, including daily senior programming; classes, activities and events; and Adult Day HealthCare. Without this resource, many Nassau County seniors have found themselves without food.

According to Ancrum, seniors may not feel comfortable leaving their homes now that COVID-19 has become more widespread. “What about meals, groceries and prescriptions?” she said. “For seniors, these are the staples of life. We are here to help.”

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Any Nassau County senior (age 60+) may request a week of FREE meals and/or special services such as delivery of groceries and prescriptions. While the meals are without charge, seniors requesting grocery shopping and prescription pick-up are responsible for payment. If you are interested, follow these simple steps:

1. Call NCCOA at 904-261-0701.
2. Tell our staff member you would like to request meals and/or grocery shopping or prescription pick-up.
3. We will complete a simple intake form with this information:
a. Name
b. Address
c. Phone number
d. Birthdate
4. Your delivery will be scheduled.

“The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners is providing financial support to NCCOA to enable us to offer these services to our seniors,” Ancrum said. “County Manager Mike Mullin called us immediately to ask how the county could support our efforts. When we are not providing services to seniors, NCCOA does not receive funding. We are so grateful to the County Commission for helping us through this financial hardship.”

Since NCCOA paused its operations, meal requests and delivery routes have grown throughout the county. Seniors who relied on receiving meals when visiting the centers are now at risk of even greater food insecurity.

“Food insecurity is not knowing when and how you will be fed,” said Ancrum. “Our mission is taking care of seniors, and we will not allow them to question where their next meal is coming from.”

She continued, “Nutritious food is also an issue. Sometimes, seniors will have food but it’s not healthy. Meals at our Life Centers are balanced and nutritious – with all the daily recommended requirements of the FDA. These are the meals we are delivering.”